Ticket printing device for dispenser



March 1969 E. COPONY ETAL TICKET PRINTING DEVICE FOR DISPENSER SheetFiled Sept. 9, 1966 March 18, 1969 E. L. COPONY ETAL 3,434,155

TICKET PRINTING DEVICE FOR DISPENSER Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1966 E n myMarch 18, 1969 E. 1.. COPONY ETAL 3,434,155

TICKET PRINTING DEVICE FOR DISPENSER Sheet 3 M4 Filed Sept. 9, 1966 msw3 g Rm QmN m 8% mnm wwmmm QE Q R A q bmm March 18, 1969 E. L. COPONYETAL 3,434,155

TICKET PRINTING DEVICE FOR DISPENSER Filed Sept. 9. 1966 Sheet 4 of 4United States Patent Oflice Patented Mar. 18, 1969 TICKET PRINTINGDEVICE FOR DISPENSER Edward L. Copony, Salisbury, Md. and Walter E.Pedroli,

Lexington, and Robert Hermann, Brookline, Mass., as-

signors to Symington Wayne Corporation, Salisbury,

Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 578,205

US. Cl. 346-43 32 Claims Int. Cl. G01d /20 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREPrinting device mounted on gasoline dispenser for printing customercredit card and transaction information on multiform ticket. Printingmodule incorporated in sliding drawer which may be locked withindispenser during operation. Outward movement of drawer presses printingroller against platen. Money and gallon amounts are set into printingmodule from dispenser. Centering mechanism for last digit printing wheelincludes a double wedge device operated by the programming or cyclingcam in the printing module. An advantageous programming cam is a barcage andis rotated in response to movement of the dispenser controls.One-way clutch and resilient connection to printing wheels facilitatecentering of lowest order digit before printing.

This invention relates to a ticket printer for providing a record oftransactions from a dispensing apparatus and it more particularlyrelates to such a printer for use in conjunction with a gasolinedispenser and customer credit cards.

Credit card transactions are now highly prevalent in gasoline servicestation operation. Printing devices are available for mechanicallyimprinting the customer credit card on tickets or recepits. The amountsand cost of the quantities dispensed must however be laboriously writtenon the tickets or recepits-thus wasting considerable time and affordinga source of error. Various devices have been proposed for automaticallyprinting dispensed amounts and costs on the tickets, but none has provedacceptable for one or more of the following reasons: complication,expense, unadaptability to mass production, poor adjustability,susceptibility to failure and difficulty of maintenance in the field.

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic printing devicefor use in conjunction with a dispenser which is relatively simple,economical, rugged, dependable, adjustable and easily maintained.

Another object is to provide such a device for use in conjunction with agasoline dispenser.

In accordance with this invention the printing device is mounted in amovable carriage which is connected to the metering means of thedispenser by a motion-permitting coupling. The carriage preferablyslides in and out of an opening in the dispenser casing within which theprinting roller means is mounted. The roller is actuated by outwardmovement of the carriage to imprint the credit card and registeringwheels on the ticket. The carriage is thus conveniently made in the formof a drawer which is slid out of the casing for insertion of the ticketand credit card and pushed back into it prior to the dispensing on thecarriage activate the motion-transmitting linkage to press the printingroller into contact with the carriage only when a ticket is in place onthe platen. The feelers are maintained retracted when the carriage isslid out of the casing to facilitate removal and insertion of tickets.The printing roller is thus maintained out of contact with the platenexcept when required to print a ticket. The carriage is locked withinthe casing while the dispenser computer is being reset as well as duringthe dispensing operation. This prevents a ticket from being alteredafter it has been inserted into the casing and takes advantage of theexisting reset interlock on the dispenser to insure that the registeringwheels in the printer are also reset before each dispensing operation.

Novel and advantageous means for centering the lowest order registeringwheels are provided by a pair of Wedges for engaging the gear spacesabout the periphery of the wheels. The wedges are spaced from each otherapproximately one-half the pitch of the gear spaces and they are movablerelative to each other for assuring centering engagement even if one ofthe Wedges should abut upon the edge of a gear element. One of thewedges is accordingly radially and resiliently mounted upon a slidingsupport to yield and permit the other wedge to accomplish the centeringmovement it the first should abut.

An advantageous functional assembly for such an automatic ticket printerdisengageably mounts the registering wheels upon rotatable shafts. Theregistering wheels are connected through one-way clutches to thedispenser output shafts and the registering wheel shafts are connectableto a resetting motor. A programming or cycling cam actuates the movementof centering and locking wedges for the registering wheels.

When the dispenser control is turned on, the numbered wheels are freelyrotated on their shafts by the dispenser computer quantity and costoutputs; and when the dispenser control is turned oflt'," theprogramming or cycling cam actuates the centering and locking of thewheels and holds them motionless while the ticket is being printed. Thecycling cam disengages the centering and locking wedges from theregistering wheels before their resetting movement. The printingassembly is then controlled to connect the resetting motor to the shaftswhich are then engaged with the numbered wheels to reset them back tozero.

The aforementioned printing assembly is controlled by starting andresetting shafts connected to those in the dispenser. The starting shaftcontrols the engagement and disengagement of the registering Wheels withtheir shafts and engagement and disengagement of transfer pinions inproper sequence. When a spring-powered resetting motor is utilized, thestarting shaft may also wind it in its movement to the on position. Theprogramming or cycling cam for controlling the centering and locking ofthe registering wheels is conveniently operated by a pawl and ratchetdrive connected to the starting and resetting shafts. 0n movement of thestarting shaft is absorbed by reverse slippage in the drive and offmovement of the starting shaft centers and locks the registering meansto hold them motionless during printing. After printing is completed,actuating movement of the resetting shaft unlocks the registering wheelsfor rotation and then releases the resetting motor to rest the printingwheels back to zero. The wheels have previously been conditioned, duringoff movement of the starting shaft, for engaging the shafts when theyrotate in the resetting direction. The registering wheels may beretarded during their resetting movement to assure engagement of therotating shafts.

A highly advantageous physical assembly for such a rotating printingdevice mounts the dollar and quantity registering wheels assemblies upona pair of parallel rotat' 3 able shafts. The numbered printing wheelsextend through openings in a platen for holding tickets in printingrelationship with the wheels. The wheels are connected to the dollar andmoney output shafts from the dispenser computer through one-wayoverrunning clutches. These connections may also be resilient to afforda slight backward centering movement of the wheels and sliding to permitmovement between the printing assembly and dispenser. The resettingmotor is conveniently mounted upon the rear of the printing assembly andthe transfer pinions, centering and locking wedges are mounted uponslides. The programming or cycling cam is mounted parallel to theregistering wheel shafts and actuates the slides for centering andlocking the registering wheels through followers. It is driven by a pawland ratchet drive actuated by the movement of the dispenser starting andresetting shafts.

The registering wheels are conveniently disengageably connected to theirshafts by pawls which are resiliently mounted in recesses in the shaftsand alternatively inserted within smooth circular and shouldered hubs inthe wheels. The pawls are respectively engaged with the shouldered holesand disengaged from the hubs by insertion within their smooth circularholes by a reciprocating movement actuated by the starting shaftconveniently through a rack and pinion. The programming or cycling camis conveniently made in the form of a bar cage which is rotatablymounted upon the starting shaft. It is rotated by a pawl and ratchetdrive in response to movement of the starting and resetting shafts.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of one embodiment of this inventionconnected to a gasoline dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the outside of the dispenser towhich the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is connected;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 1 along the line 44;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 9 along the line5--5;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view taken through FIG. 5 along theline 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 with the carriage ofthe printer in the Withdrawn or extended position and taken through FIG.8 along the line 77;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view taken through FIG. 7 along theline 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation similar to FIG. 3 partially brokenaway in cross section;

FIG. 10 is a front view in elevation of the printing mechanism in thecarriage of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the flywheel portionof the mechanism shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a right side view in elevation of the mechanism shown inFIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 12A is a cross-section view in elevation of an input couplingportion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 13 is a rear view in elevation of the mechanism shown in FIGS.10-12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 11 along the line1414;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 14 along the line1515;

FIG. 16 is a front view in elevation of resetting por- 4 tions of themechanism shown in FIG. 10 in the initial phase of operation before thedispenser is started;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 11 along the line1717 in the phase of operation shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front view in elevation similar to FIG. 16 in thedispensing phase of operation;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 17 in the dispensingphase of operation shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a front view in elevation similar to FIGS. 16 and 18 in theprinting phase of operation;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 17 and 19 in theprinting phase of operation shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front view in elevation similar to FIGS. 16, 18 and 20 inthe resetting phase of operation; and

' FIG.'23 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 17, 19 and 21 inthe resetting phase of operation shown in FIG. 22."

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-9

In FIGS. 1-3 is shown a printing device 10 connected to dispenser 12 forrecording total amounts dispensed, total cost and customeridentification. Printing device 10 includes carriage 14 connected. toreceive inputs from the metering or computing means 16 of dispenser 12and mounted to move in and out of opening 20 in receptacle 18conveniently mounted within casing 22 of dispenser 12. The compactstructure of device 10 facilitates its space-saving insertion within theportion of dispenser 12 between computer 16 and casing 22.

Carriage 14 is connected to computer 16 and operative portions ofdispenser 12 through four movable connec tions. These four movableconnections include two permanently connected sliding shafts 24 and 26shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 8. Sliding shaft 24 is connected to gallon shaft28 on gearing assembly 46 (shown in FIG. 1) and sliding shaft 26 isconnected to dollar shaft 30 of gearing assembly 46. Computer gallonshaft 17 and dollar. shaft 19 are shown in FIG. 1 connected to the inputside of gear assembly46. Sliding shafts 24 and 26 are respectivelyconnected to shafts 28 and 30 through one-way overrunning clutches 32for permitting gallon and dollar shafts 24 and 26 to carriage 14 to runfreely ahead of respective computer input shafts during the resettingoperation later described in detail.

The other two movable connections from carriage 14 to computer 16 aremade as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 from dispenser starting shaft 34 andcoupling 49 to slotted coupling 42 for connection to printer startingshaft 38. Dispenser resetting shaft 36 shown in FIG. 1 is connected tocoupling 47 and slotted coupling 44 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 forconnection to printerresetting shaft 40. The starting and resettingshaft inputs to carriage 14 are introduced (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7)through disengageable tanged couplings 41 and 43 to printer startingshaft 38 and printer resetting shaft 40. Tangs 37 and 39 respectivelyextend through shafts 38- and 40. Tanged couplings 41 and 43 alsoinclude slotted sleeves 42 and 44 shown in FIG. 7. Gear assembly 46(shown in FIGS. 1 and 5) is mounted on the side of computer 16. In FIG.7 starting and resetting shaft couplings 41 and 43 are shown broken,which occurs when carriage 14 is withdrawn or extended. Starting shaftcoupling 41 and resetting shaft coupling 43 are engaged in the insertedposition of carriage 14 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, carriage 14 is mounted on telescopicdrawer slides 48 shown in FIG. 1 to slide carriage 14 in and out ofopening 20 like a drawer. Drawer 14 is grasped by hooking up into handlerecess 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Pawl 23 loosely engages within rack 25in the sides of drawer 14 above slides 48 to enforce complete inward oroutward movement of drawer 14 during each movement. It is therefore afull stroke device and the inclination of pawl 23 does not permitreverse movement until it is engaged in openings 27 and 29 re spectivelyin the front and back of rack 25. A train of gears 31 shown in FIG. 1connects rack 25 with printing roller 50 to cause it to move at the samesurface speed as ticket-receiving platen 52 and a ticket inserted uponit. This prevents ticket 60 from being buckled when printing roller 50moves in firm contact across it. Printing roller 50 is rotatably mountedthrough one-way clutch 51 (shown in FIG. 9) to compel rotation only inthe printing direction. Drawer 14 is easily removed together with thelaterdescribed printing mechanism contained in it by removal of capscrews 45 extending through slots 53 in drawer slides 48.

All of the registering mechanism of the printer is mounted withincarriage 14. The print-effecting device, namely printing roller 50, ismounted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-9 within casing 22 adjacentticket-supporting platen 52 of carriage 14. Ticket-supporting platen 52includes side cutouts 54 and 56 to facilitate insertion and removal ofcredit card 58 and ticket '60 shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Ticket 60 is forexample of the multiple type interleaved with carbon. It is imprintedafter completion of the dispensing operation with the informationtransmitted to the printable registering wheels of carriage 14 laterdescribed in detail. The registering wheels extend through openings inplaten 52 which are disposed under total gallons block 62 and totalcharge block 64 on ticket 60. The date and price blocks 66 and 68 areprinted by manually-adjustable wheels. The gallon and cost printingwheels are driven by the dispenser computer through the aforementionedshafts and as later described in detail.

In FIG. 6 are shown spring guides 71 and 73 for holding ticket 60 andcredit card 58 in position upon platen 52. Leaf spring guide 71 isL-shaped and includes a spaced rear section 75 having an upwardlyinclined edge for receiving the rear end of ticket 60. Guide spring 71is anchored to platen 52 by side leg 77. Rear section 75 includes slots79 to permit guide lugs 106 on ticket-sensing levers 98 to extendthrough them. Spring finger 73 has a forked tip 81 for holding creditcard 58 firmly in place on platen 52 in a suitable recess 83 provided inplaten 52 for receiving credit card 58.

Printing roller 50 is for example of the permanently inked type forrecording the information from the carriage printing wheels on the uppersurface of multiple ticket form 60 as well as on the inner leaves. It ismounted upon movable bracket 70 in a manner which maintains it out ofcontact with the ticket supporting surface or platen 52 except when aticket 60 is inserted and carriage 14 is being moved in the printingdirection. Carriage 14 actuates printing when it is being moved outreceptacle 18 and casing 22. Bracket 70 is accordingly rotatably mountedwithin receptacle 18 upon axis of rotation 72. Compression spring 74 infoot extension 76 of bracket 70 reacts against pin 78 in a direction tourge printing roller 50 away from platen 52.

Motion-transmitting sliding cam 80 shown in FIGS. 5-8 reacts betweencarriage 14 and printing roller bracket 70 to move printing roller 50into contact with platen 52 during the outward or withdrawing movementof carriage 14. Sliding cam assembly 80 includes a pair of bars 82mounted to slide back and forth within the top of the sides ofreceptacle 18 on pins 84 and 78 extending through slots 86 and 88 inbars 82. The outer ends 90 of bars 82 include adjustable cammingelements, namely set screws 92, for contacting the upper camming surface94 of brackets 70. When slide bars 82 are shoved back as shown in FIGS.5 and 6, set screws 92 force the end of bracket 70 and printing roller50 downwardly toward platen 52. When drawer or carriage 14 is pulled outas shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, bars 82 are pulled outwardly toreleaseprinting roller bracket 70. This allows springs 74 to move printingroller 50 away from contact with platen 52. This release is accomplishedat the end of the outward movement of carriage 14 after the informationon the registering portions of carriage 14 has been imprinted uponticket 60 during the outward movement of drawer 14.

As previously mentioned, printing roller 50 is only forced into contactwith platen 52 when a ticket 60 is placed upon it. This is accomplishedby cooperating projection means in the connection between carriage 14and sliding cam provided by inwardly extending lugs 96 on slide bars 82(shown in FIGS. 6 and 8) in conjunction with the shorter ends 97 ofticket-sensing levers 98 mounted upon platen 52. Levers 98 areresiliently urged by torsion springs 99 toward the ticket-supportingportion 100 of platen 52 designated by the outline of ticket 60 in FIGS.6 and 8. The inner ticket-contacting ends 102 of levers 98 are guided tomove within slots 104 in platen 52 by inserted guide pins 106, whichalso extend through slots 79 in rear spring guide section 75.

The cooperating projection means also includes hooks 108 which engagefront surfaces 101 on levers 98 when they are moved forward therebymaintaining them retracted from the ticket-supporting portion 100 ofplaten 52 when carriage 14 is fully pulled out of receptacle 18. Thisfacilitates insertion and [replacement of ticket 60 by keeping levers 98retracted away from ticket-receiving surface 100.

The operation of dispenser 12 is controlled in the conventional mannerby dispenser starting lever 110 and computer resetting knob 112. Printer10 is arranged to C0 ordinate its operating cycle with that of thedispenser. Dispenser 12 cannot operate until carriage 14 is fullyinserted within it and when the dispensing or resetting operations ofdispenser 12 are being accomplished, carriage or drawer 14 cannot bepulled outside of receptacle 1'8 and casing 22. This is accomplished byinterlocking carriage 14 with operating linkages connected to dispenserstarting handle 110 and computer resetting knob 112. The interlockincludes recess 114 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) in the bottom of drawer 14within which end 116 of interlocking link 118 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 9)is inserted.

When carriage 14 is removed from casing 22, as shown in FIG. 7, end 116of lever 118 abuts unbroken bottom surface 120 of drawer 14. Thisprevents operative movement of starting handle 110 and resetting knob112. When drawer 14 is inserted within receptacle 18 (as shown in FIG.5) and either starting handle 110 or resetting knob 112 is rotated, end116 of interlocking lever 118 is inserted into recess 114 to lock drawer14 within receptacle 18. It is then impossible to tamper with a ticketor the printing wheels while the dispensing or resetting operations arebeing accomplished. Interlocking lever 118 is rotatably mounted uponpivot pin 121, and it is actuated by link 122 connected to resettingknob 112 and link 124 connected to starting handle 110. Link 124 isconnected to interlocking link 118 through intermediate link 126. Theconnections from dispenser starting handle 110 and resetting knob 112 tooperative portions of the dispenser and computer are not shown, and maybe of a conventional nature.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 10-23 The registering mechanism 128 in carriage 14is shown in FIGS. 10-23. Mechanism 128 (shown in FIGS. 10-14) includesnumbered printable registering wheels 130a, b, c and d for registeringgallons and wheels 132a, b, c and d for registering total cost.Registering wheels 130a and 132a are for the lowest order digits and theothers are for the higher order digits. Registering wheel assemblies 130and 132 are rotatably mounted in frame 134 including front plate 136 andrear plate 138 which are held together by a series of posts 140.

Numbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132 are rotatably mounted uponadditionally rotatable shafts 142 and 144. Shafts 142 and 144accordingly extend through bearings in plates 136 and 138. Printingwheel assemblies 130 and 132 are connected to printing mechanism dollarand gallon shafts 24 and 26 through resilient connections 146 and gears158. Resilient connections 146 (shown in FIGS. 12 and 12A) completetheir drive connection through input flange 149, spring 150 and gearedoutput flange 151 which aiford a partial turn rearward for accomplishingcentering movement as later described in detail. The drive from lowestorder registering wheels 130a and 132a to the higher order wheels iscompleted through transfer pinion gear assemblies 152 of a conventionaltype. Transfer pinion gear assemblies 152 are mounted upon yoke slides154 which slide laterally back and forth in a manner later described formoving transfer pinion gear assemblies from the disengaged positionshown in FIGS. 11 and 17 to the engaged position shown in FIG. 19.

Spring hands 155 including fingers 156 are mounted upon the portions ofyoked slides 154 adjacent printing wheels 130 and 132 on the oppositesides from transfer pinion gear assemblies 152. Spring fingers 156engage gear pegs 158 (shown in FIG. 14) around the side peripheries ofregistering wheel assemblies 130 and 132 when transfer gear pinionassemblies 152 are disengaged. This prevents'printing wheels 130 and 132from inadvertently being dragged out of position when shafts 142 and 144rotate freely within them during winding of the resetting motor laterdescribed. I

Numbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132 are disengageably connected toshafts 142 and 144 by disengageable projection means 160 shown in FIG.14. Disengageable projection means 160 include hooked pawls 162rotatably mounted in slots or recesses 164 in shafts 142 and 144 foreach .wheel 130 and 132. Pawls 162 are resiliently urged outwardly fromrecesses 164 by torsion springs 166. Pawls 162 engage shoulders 168 inthe hubs of registering wheels 130 and 132, represented in FIGS. 14 and15 by lowest order. registering wheel 130a. Shoulder 168 in hub 170 ofwheel 130a on one side of pawl 162 has substantial depth for causingpawl 162 to transmit clockwise rotation to wheel 130a looking in thedirection of FIG. 15 during the resetting rotation of shaft 142. Theother side 172 of shouldered opening 174 in hub 170 is inclined and cutout almost to the full height of pawl 162 to help pawl 162 rotate freelywithin opening 174 up to shoulder 168, which corresponds to the zeroposition of wheel 130a. The low step 173 in inclined side 172 preventswheel 130a from drifting clockwise relative to pawl 162 looking in thedirection of FIG. 15. FIG. 15 also shows numbers 176 on flats 178 aboutthe periphery of wheel 130a. The zero number 176 is disposed radially inalignment with shoulder 168. Pegs 158 extend from the side periphery ofwheel 130a to provide gear spaces for engagement of transfer piniongears 152.

As shown in FIG. 14, shaft 142 and also shaft 144 (not shown) are movedaxially by pinion 180 and circular rack 182 (in a manner laterdescribed) to push shaft 142 in the direction of arrow 184. This pushespawl 162 into the smooth circular portion 186 of wheel hub 170 to freewheel 130a from shaft 142. Spring 166 maintains pawl 1-62 urgedoutwardly toward hub 17 0. When shaft 142 is moved axially backwardly,pawl 162 is conditioned for reengagement with shoulder 168 when wheel130a rotates it into registery with pawl 162 during its resettingmovement. Rotation of pinion 180 is accomplished by upward and downwardmovement of straight rack 188 as later described.

Shafts 142 and 144 are rotated for resetting numbered wheel assemblies130 and 132 to zero by resetting motor 190 mounted upon the front offrame 134 as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. Resetting motor 190 includesgear segment 192 engaged with spur gears 194 on the ends of shaft 142and 144. Gear segment 192 is connected to torsion spring 196 whichreacts rotationally against it. Resetting motor 190 is therefore aspring-operated motor. Pin 198 in arcuate slot 200 in gear segment 192positively limits its travel. Auxiliary gear segment 202 is attached tomain gear segment 192 for transmitting motion through gear train 204 toflywheel assembly 206 shown in FIG. 11. Flywheel assembly 206 retardsthe resetting motion of shafts 142 and 144 to insure angular engagementof pawls 162 against shoulders 168 in the hubs of numbered wheel 8assemblies and 132. As shown in FIG. 11A, flywheel assembly 206 includesan input shaft 207 which is frictionally connected to flywheel ring 209by pressure spring 211 which reacts between ring 209 and collar 213.Flywheel assembly 206 thus also is an energy absorber.

Gear segment 192 is locked in its fully wound position (as laterdescribed) by latching lever 208 including latching bar 210 under whichextension 212 of gear segment 192 blocks. Leaf spring 214 urges latchinglever 208 toward engagement with latching extension 212. Latching lever208 is moved in the releasing direction by hooked lever 216 mounted uponresetting shaft 40 and operated in a manner later described. Resettingmotor 190 is cocked by driving contact of pin 220 through starting shaft38 after pin 220 takes up the space shown in FIG. 10 between it and peg224 in gear segment 192 as later described indetail.

FIG. 13 shows the rear of printing mechanism 128 and its operativeconnections to dispenser 12 including starting shaft 38 .and resettingshaft 40. Tangs 37 and 39'extend through shafts 38 and 40 to form partsof couplings 41 and 43 (previously shown in FIG. 7). Starting shaft 38moves straight rack 188 also shown in FIG. 14 downwardly and upwardlythrough cam plate 226. Follower pin 228 attached to straight rack 188engages in curved slot'230 in cam plate 226. Clockwiserotation of cam226, in the direction of arrow 232 in FIG. 13, pulls rack 188 downwardlyto rotate intermediate pinion 34 and end pinions 180 all connected topinion shaft 235- in a clockwise direction. This rotates pinion 180shown in FIG. 14 clockwise in the direction of arrow 236 againstcircular rack 182 to push shaft 142 in the direction of arrow 184.Clockwise or fon movement of starting shaft 38 shown in FIG. 13, thusdisengages shafts 142 and 144 from numbered wheel assemblies 130 and132.

Yoked transfer gear pinion slide 154 shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 17 isoperated by an inner extension of pin follower 228 through slot 229shown in FIG. 17 engaging in slotted arm 238. Arm 238 is connected toarm 240 which engages slide 154 through pin 242 extending through slot244 in arm 240. Movement of pin 228 downwardly accordingly moves slide154 to the right from its position shown in FIG. 17 to that shown inFIG. 19 to engage transfer gear pinions 152 with the spaces between pegs158 about the periphery of numbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132. At thesame time spring hands are also moved to the right upon slide 154 todisengage spring fingers 156 from the spaces between pegs 158 as shownin FIG. 19. The sequence for such operations is later described indetail.

There are two more slides for actuating the operation of printingmechanism 128, which are shown in FIGS. l1, l2 and 17. Lowest orderwheels centering and locking slides 246 is mounted adjacent rear frameplate 138. A pair of centering and locking wedge assemblies 248 aremounted on slides 246 for centering and then locking gears 250 connectedto lowest order printing wheels 130a and 132a. Centering and lockingwedge assemblies 248 include a movable wedge 252 radially mounted withrespect to gears 250. Wedge 252 (shown in FIG. 11) is movable withinslot 254 and is resiliently urged toward gear 250 by compression spring256.

The outer casing 258 of centering wedge assembly 248 (shown in FIGS. 17,19, 21 and 23) forms a stationary centering wedge spaced one-half the.pitch of gear 250 below movable wedge 252. If movable wedge 252 shouldabut upon the edge of a tooth of gear 250, it yields resiliently to'allow fixed wedge 258 to enter inbetween the adjacent teeth or gear 250to nudge them away from abutment with movable wedge 252. Movable wedge252 then centers and locks gear 250. This insures that centering wedgeassembly 248 always centers the lowest order printing wheels 130a and132a even if primary wedge 252 initially hits the edge of a tooth. Thiscentering movement is necessary to insure the printing of whole numberson ticket 60 to avoid all controversies concerning the amounts printed,particularly total cost.

The last slide in printing mechanism 128 is inner yoke 260 from whichhooked fingers 262 (shown in FIG. 17) extend for engaging inbetween pegs159 extending laterally from the peripheries of numbered wheelassemblies 130 and 132. Hooked fingers 262 lock the higher orderprinting wheels 130b, c and d and 132b, c and d during the printingoperation as later described. Slides 246 and 260 are moved laterally by=bell crank levers 264 and 266, which are respectively connected to camfollower levers 268 and 270 shown in FIG. 19. Only a portion of followerlever 268 is shown because it is behind lever 270 in FIGS. 17, 19, 21and 23. Follower levers 268 and 270 engage programming cam assembly 272shown in FIGS. 12 and 17 for actuating movement of centering and lockingslides 246 and 260 in proper sequence as later described in detail.

Programming cam assembly 272 is a cycling cam and it includes a cage ofbars 274, extending between front and rear flanges 276, which arerotata'bly mounted about starting shaft 38 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 17.The ends of follower levers 268 and 270 alternately ride upon theoutsides of bars 274 and drop into the spaces between them for actuatingtheir slides in proper sequence. Rotation of cage of bars 274 isaccomplished by engagement of pawls 278 rotatably mounted on bars 274under inclined ratchet teeth 280 around an aligned portion of startingshaft 38. During the on movement of starting shaft 38 counterclockwise(as shown in FIG. 17) pawls 278 allow backwardly-inclined teeth 280 toride under them. When starting shaft 38 is turned clockwise in the offdirection (from FIG. 19 to FIG. 21), ratchet teeth 280 engage pawls 278to rotate bar cage cam 272 clockwise (for example through 70) to actuatecycling movement of the character later described.

Programming cam 272 is also operated in response to movement ofresetting shaft 40 to which lobed cam 282 is attached. Rotation ofresetting shaft 40 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 23nudges ratcheting lever 284 carrying pawl 286 clockwise (for examplethrough 20). Pawl 286 engages in notches 288 about the periphery of barcage flange 276 to complete the 90 cycle of rotation of programming cam272 in the sequence later described.

OPERATION FIGURES: Phase of operation 16-17 Prior to dispensing andbefore operation of dispenser starting handle.

18-19 During dispensing operation.

20-21 During printing operation.

22-23 During resetting operation.

Before dispensing Before the dispensing operation, drawer or carriage 14is pulled out (asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2) for insertion of ticket 60 andcredit card 58 upon platen 52 in the positions shown in FIG. 8.Ticket-sensing levers 98 are maintained retracted away from ticketreceiving area 100 by hooks 108 which engage front surfaces 101 oflevers 98. At this time neither starting handle 110 nor resetting knob112 can be operated because end 116 of interlocking lever 118 is blockedby the bottom surface 120 of carriage 14.

Drawer 14 carrying ticket 60 and credit card 58 is then pushed intoreceptacle 18 and casing 22 to the position shown in FIGS. and 6.Starting handle 110 can then be rotated to start the dispensingoperation and the pumping of gasoline because end 116 of interlockinglever 118 moves into recess 114 in the bottom 120 of drawer 14 as shownin FIG. 5. This prevents drawer 14 from being pulled out during thedispensing operation.

Printing roller 50 is maintained out of contact with platen 52 andticket 60 upon it during most of the inward movement of drawer 14. It isonly when outer ends 97 of ticket-sensing levers 98 pick up lugs orprojections 96 on slide bars 82 that sliding cam assembly forcesprinting roller 50 down into contact with platen 52. This prepares it toeffect printing when drawer 14 is pulled out.

Before starting handle (shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 9) is rotated tostart the dispensing operation, printing mechanism 128 is in thecondition shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Printer starting shaft 38 then alsois in its unactuated condition. Shafts 142 and 144 are engaged withnumbered wheel assemblies and 132 in the manner shown in FIGS. 14 and15. Transfer gear pinions 152 are disengaged from gear pegs 158 aboutthe periphery of numbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132, and yokedtransfer pinion slide is accordingly in its lefthand position in FIG.17. Centering and locking wedge assemblies 248 on slide 246 are in theirright-hand extremity of movement in FIG. 17 with wedges 252 and 258disengaged from numbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132. Hooked fingers262 on slide 260- are also to the right and disengaged from numberedwheel assemblies 130 and 132. This is the condition that exists afterprinting mechanism 128 has been reset, which is the last part of thecycle herein described.

When starting handle 110 is actuated, printer starting shaft 38 isrotated counterclockwise as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 18 and 19. As shownin FIG. 13, this rotates cam plate 226 in a direction of arrow 232 topush pin 228 and its straight rack 188- downwardly. This rotates pinions(as shown in FIG. 14) in the direction of arrow 236 to push shaft 142inwardly to the right. This disengages pawl 162 from the shoulderedportion of hub 170 of wheels 130 and 132 and inserts it within smoothcircular portion 186.

As shown in FIG. 19, the inward extension of pin 228 has moveddownwardly in slot 229 to rotate lever 238 and attached bell crank lever2-40 clockwise. This moves slide 154 carrying transfer pinions 152 intoengagement with numbered registering wheel assemblies 130 and 132.Spring fingers 156 are then disengaged from numbered wheels 130 and 132.

In FIG. 18 starting shaft 38 has been rotated far enough to fully rotateresetting gear segment 192 through drive peg 22 4 in the direction ofarrow 193. This winds and cocks resetting motor 190. The aforementioneddisengagement of shafts 142 and 144 from numbered wheels 130 and 132 andthe engagement of transfer gear pinions 152 therewith is accomplishedbefore resetting motor is wound because of the initial clearance betweenpin 220 and drive peg 224 shown in FIG. 16. In FIG. 18, pin 220 hasfully wound resetting spring 196 and latched projection 212 of gearsegment 192 under latching bar 210 on latching lever 208. This preparesmotor 190* for its subsequent resetting operation. During the winding ofspring 19 6, shafts 142 and 144 are rotated through spur gears 194, butshafts 142 and 144 are disengaged from numbered wheel assemblies 130 and132 and held motionless by engagement of transfer gear pinions 152,which provide enough resistance to prevent numbered wheels from beingdragged out of the zero position shown in FIG. 11 by the rotation ofshafts 142 and 144 within them while resetting motor 190 is being wound.

During rotation of starting shaft 38 from the position shown in FIG. 17to that shown in FIG. 19, programming cam 272 is not actuated becauseratchet teeth 280 on shaft 38 slide freely under pawls 278 on bar cageflanges 276. This conditions the programming cam for opera- 11 tion whenhandle 110 and starting shaft 38 are moved into 01f direction.

Dispensing During the dispensing operation, gallons shaft 28 and dollarshaft 30 from computer 16 shown in FIG. 1 provide a rotational inputwhich is counterclockwise to printer gallon shaft 142 and dollar shaft144 viewed in the direction of FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 2-, the gallonand dollar rotational inputs are fed through one-way overrunningcouplings or clutches 32 and sliding gallon and dollar shafts 24 and 26to printing mechanism 128 in drawer 14. These inputs are connectedthrough resilient connections 146 (one of which is shown in FIG. 12) tospur gears 158 connected to the lowest order registering wheels 130a forgallons and 132a for cost. Transfer pinion gears 152 connect lowestorder registering wheels 130a and 132a to higher order registeringwheels 13011, c, and d and 13219, c and d.

Before printing When starting shaft 38 is moved in the off direction(clockwise in FIGS. 16-23) ratchet teeth 280 engage and drive pawls 278and attached bar cage assembly 272 clockwise from the position shown inFIGS. 17 and 19 to the position shown in FIG. 21 in which it has beenrotated 70. Follower levers 268 and 270 are then raised in the recitedsequence by the rotation under them of a bar 274. Lever 268 is raisedfirst because its actuating portion is slightly closer to its pivot 271than lever 270. This causes slide 246 to be pulled to the left bycounterclockwise rotation of bell crank lever 264 to the position shownin FIG. 21. Centering and locking wedge assemblies 248 then are engagedwith gears 250. This first centers and then locks lowest orderregistering wheels 130a. and 132a to prevent controversy about theprinted gallonage and cost. The movable mounting of wedge 252 shown inFIG. 11 insures that the lowest order registering wheels are centeredeven if they should abut the edge of one of the teeth of gears 250.

One-way overrunning clutches 32 permit free centering movement ofregistering wheel assemblies 130 and 132 in the direction of input whichis counterclockwise in FIG. and clockwise in the direction of FIG. 13.Centering movement through a partial revolution in the reverse directionis permitted by resilient connection 146 shown in FIG. 12A in which coilspring 150 can absorb considerable backward movement.

After lowest order registering wheels 130a and 132a have been centered,the subsequent lifting of follower lever 270 on bar 274 rotatesconnected bell crank 266. This moves pin 267 in slot 269 toward the leftand pulls locking slide 260 carrying hooked fingers 262 tothe left intoengagement with the spaces between pegs 158 about the periphery ofhigher order registering wheels 130b, c, d and 132b, c and d (as shownin FIG. 21). This securely locks the actuated registering wheels priorto the printing operation.

The off movement of starting shaft 38 also raises pin 228 in cam plate226 to cause shafts 142 and 144 to be pulled axially outwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 14 in which reset pawl 162 is in line withshouldered hole 174. Shafts 142 and 144 are not immediately lockedagainst shoulder 168 unless they are in the zero position because resetpawls 162 are otherwise angularly misaligned with it. Shafts 142 and 144and wheel assemblies 130 and 132 are thus conditioned for reengagingpawls 162 with shoulders 168 when numbered wheels 130 and 132 arerotated back to zero during their resetting movement as later described.

The off movement of starting shaft 38 also moves transfer gear pinions152 on yoked slide 154 to the left (as shown in FIG. 21) therebydisengaging transfer pinions 152 from printing wheel assemblies 130 and132. Transfer gears 152 then engage arresting springs 157 anchored toslide 154 by brackets 159 to maintain them aligned for reengagement withzeroed printing wheel assemblies 130 and 132. Spring fingers 156 onyoked slides 154 engage into the spaces between gear pegs 158 onnumbered wheel assemblies 130 and 132 to retard their movement andprevent them from dragging together during the resetting operationbefore their pawls 162 engag shoulders 168.

Printing The printing operation is then automatically accomplished whendrawer 14 is pulled outwardly from the inserted position shown in FIGS.5 and 6 to the withdrawn position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8. In theinserted position of FIGS. 5 and 6', printing roller 50 has been forceddown into contact with the outer edge of ticket 60 in preparation forprinting. The outward movement of drawer 14 causes gear train 31 shownin FIG. 1 to rotate printing roller 50 across ticket 60 and credit card58 without any relative movement between surfaces. This firmly pressesroller 50 against ticket 60 which is in turn forced (Without buckling)against the raised indicia on credit card 58 and total gallons and costprinting wheels 130 and 132as well as against the date and unit costprinting wheels under blocks 66 and 68 shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Roller 50is inked. It therefore prints the aforementioned information upon thesurface of ticket 60 as well as within the multiple carboned leaves ofticket 60. During the outward movement of drawer 14, full-stroke pawl 23prevents its motion from being reversed until it is all the way out.

When drawer 14 is pulled almost all of the way out, hooks 108 (shown inFIGS. 5-8) engage front surfaces 101 of ticket-sensing feelers 98. Thispulls out bars 82 to which books 108 are attached and also sliding camassembly to release printing roller bracket 70. Roller 50 is then raisedupwardly by compression springs 74 reacting against pins 78. Hooks 108also maintain ticketsensing levers 98 retracted away fromticket-receiving area 100 of platen 52 to facilitate removal of ticket60 and its replacement. During this printing operation, printing wheelsand 132 are maintained firmly fixed by the aforementioned engagement oflocking wedge assemblies 248 and hooked locking fingers 262.

Resetting Drawer 14 must be reinserted into receptacle 18 in casing 22before dispenser computer 16 and printing mechanism 128 can be reset tozero. Resetting knob 112 thus cannot be moved unless recess 114 in thebottom of drawer 14 is aligned with end 116 of interlocking lever 118.If drawer 14 is inserted into the dispenser without a ticket 60,ticket-sensing levers 98 can rotate within ticket receiving area 100thereby removing their projecting ends 97 from the path of contact withinner projections 96 on sliding bars 82. This prevents printing roller50 from being pressed into contact with a bare platen 52 to avoidunnecessary wear on the roller and smearing of platen 52. However, evenwithout ticket 60 in place, the full sequence of operation ofregistering mechanism 128 is accomplished.

Movement of dispenser resetting knob 112 rotates printer resetting shaft40 from the position shown in FIGS. 16, 18 and 20 to that shown in FIG.22. Hooked lever 216 forces resetting motor latching lever 208 andlatching bar 210 clockwise to release projecting edge 212 of resettinggear segment 192 from bar 210. This allows resetting spring 196 torotate resetting gear segment 192 rapidly in the clockwise direction.This rotates spur gears 194 and shafts 142 and 144 counterclockwise asshown in FIG. 22. Resetting pawls 162 move through inclined surfaces 172in the hubs of wheel assemblies 130 and 132 into contact with shoulders168. This causes shafts 142 and 144 to pick up and rotate wheelassemblies 130 and 132 back to zero (as shown in FIG. 11) becauseresetting gear segment 192, shafts 142 and 144,

13 pawls 162 and shoulders 168 are accordingly oriented. Numbered wheelassemblies 130 and 132 have previously been free of entering and lockingwedges and transfer pinion gears to permit their resetting movement backto zero.

Flywheel assembly 206 is driven during the resetting movement of shafts142 and 144 through gear train 204. This retards their movementsufficiently to insure that pawls 162 dependably pick up shoulders 168in registering wheel assemblies 130 and 132. Spring fingers 156 ontransfer pinion gear yoked slide 154 engage lightly inbetween pegs 158in the peripheries of registering wheel assemblies 130 and 132 duringresetting to prevent them from being dragged together during the firstpart of their resetting cycle and overriding zero before each of theirreset pawls 162 engage shoulders 168.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for printing tickets to record the operation of dispensingapparatus having metering means and a casing comprising a carriage,printable registering means in said carriage, ticket-supporting meansupon said carriage for holding tickets in printing relationship withsaid printable registering means, a receptacle in said casing having anopening for receiving said carriage, movable means mounting saidcarriage upon said casing for movement of said carriage and said ticketswithin and outside of said receptacle, motion-permitting coupling meansconnecting said printable registering means with said metering means fortransmitting amounts dispensed to said registering means, printing meansin said casing disposed adjacent said ticket-supporting means when saidcarriage is within said receptacle, and actuating means connected tosaid printing means whereby said amounts upon said registering means arecaused to 'be printed upon said ticket within said receptacle when saiddispensing operation is completed.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable means comprisesslide means and said carriage is mounted upon said slide means to movewithin and outside of said casing.

I 3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ticketsupportingmeans comprises a platen, said platen including an opening through whichsaid printable registering means extend whereby said ticket is caused tobe printed with said amounts upon said registering means by beingimpressed by said printing means upon said registering means throughsaid opening.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said printing meanscomprises a printing roller and bracket means mounting said rolleradjacent the path of movement of said ticket-supporting means forimprinting said tickets in conjunction with said printable registeringmeans as said carriage is sliding outside of said casing.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bracket means isconstructed and arranged to permit movement of said printing rollertoward and away from said ticketsupporting means, and said actuatingmeans comprises motion-transmitting means between said carriage and saidbracket means whereby said printing roller is moved into contact withsaid ticket-supporting means when said carriage slides out of saidcasing whereby said ticket is printed while said carrier is being movedout of said casmg.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispenser includes anoperating control, printing cycle operating control means in saidcarriage and separable coupling means connecting said dispenser controlwith said printing cycle control when said carriage is moved within saidcasing for actuating its operation in conjunction with said dispenser.

7. A device for printing tickets to record the operation ofdispensingapparatus having metering means and a casing comprising acarriage, printable registering means in said carriage,ticket-supporting means upon said carriage for holding tickets inprinting relationship with said printable registering means, slide meansmounting said carriage upon said casing for linear movement of saidcarriage and said tickets, motion-permitting coupling means connectingsaid printable registering means with said metering means fortransmitting amounts dispensed to said registering means at one end ofthe path of linear movement of said carriage, printing means mountedupon said casing disposed adjacent the linear path of movement of saidticket-supporting means, actuating means connected to said printingmeans whereby said printing means is caused to move towards contact withsaid ticket-supporting means to print said amounts upon said registeringmeans upon said ticket after said dispensing operation is completed andsaid carriage is moved from said one end of its linear path of movementto the other, and said carriage and said printing means beingconstructed and arranged to permit tickets to be removed and replaced atsaid other end of said path of linear movement of said carriage.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ticketsupporting meanscomprises a platen, said platen including an opening through which saidprintable registering means extend whereby said ticket is caused to beprinted with said amounts upon said registering means by being impressedby said printing means upon said registering means through said opening.

9. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said printing meanscomprises a printing roller and bracket means mounting said rolleradjacent the path of movement of said ticket-supporting means forimprinting said tickets in conjunction with said printable registeringmeans as said carrier is sliding toward said other end.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bracket means isconstructed and arranged to permit movement of said printing rollertoward and away from said ticket-supporting means, and said actuatingmeans comprises motion-transmitting means between said carriage and saidbracket means whereby said printing roller is moved into contact withsaid ticket-supporting means when said carriage slides toward said otherend of said linear path of movement whereby said ticket is printed whilesaid carriage is being moved toward said other end.

11. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said dispenser includes anoperating control, printing cycle operating control means in saidcarriage, separable coupling means connecting said dispenser controlwith said printing cycle control when said carriage is moved to said oneend for actuating its operation in conjunction with said dispenser,interlocking means are connected with said printing cycle control andwith said carriage for locking said carriage at said one end while saiddispensing operation is being conducted.

12. A device for printing tickets to record the operation of dispensingapparatus having metering means and control means comprising a frame, aset of numbered printable registering wheels in said frame,ticket-supporting means upon said frame for holding tickets in printingrelationship with said set of numbered printable registering wheels,printing means mounted adjacent said ticket-supporting means for causingsaid amounts upon said numbered wheels to be printed upon said ticket, arotatable shaft mounted upon said frame, said numbered wheels beingrotatably mounted upon said rotatable shaft for rotation relative tosaid shaft, coupling means connecting said numbered wheels with saidmetering means for transmitting amounts dispensed from said meteringmeans to said numbered wheels, a resetting means mounted upon saidframe, motion-transmitting means connecting said resetting means to saidrotatable shaft,-disengageable projection means for connect-ing saidnumbered wheels to said shaft to rotate them together with said shaft,centering and locking wedge means, movable supporting means mountingsaid centering and locking wedge means upon said frame for engagementand disengage- F ment with said numbered wheels, programming means uponsaid frame connected with said centering and locking wedge means forcentering and locking said numbered wheels after said amounts dispensedare transmitted to said numbered Wheels and while said ticket is printedtherewith, actuating means for said projection means, printing assemblycontrol means on said frame connected to said actuating means wherebysaid numbered wheels are disconnected from said shaft when saiddispenser control is turned on and said amounts are transmitted theretofrom said metering means and whereby said numbered wheels are connectedfor rotation with said shaft when said dispenser control is turned off,said printing assembly control means being connected to operate saidprogramming means whereby said centering and locking wedge means isdisengaged from said numbered wheels when said dispenser control isturned on, said programming means engaging said centering and lockingwedge means with said numbered wheels when said dispenser control isturned off to center and lock them while said ticket is printed, saidprinting assembly control being connected to said resetting means foroperating it to reset said numbered wheels to zero after said amounts onsaid numbered wheels are printed, and said programming means disengagingsaid centering and locking wedge means from said numbered wheels whilesaid numbered wheels are being reset to zero.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein transfer pinion means aremounted upon said frame for cooperative engagement with said numberedwheels, said transfer pinion means being mounted upon pinion supportmeans for engaging said transfer pinion means with said numbered wheelsat one end of its movement and for disengagement of said transfer pinionmean-s from said numbered wheels at the other end of its movement, andsaid pinion support means being connected to said printing assemblycontrol means to move said pinion support means to engage said transferpinion means with said numbered wheels when said dispenser control isturned on and to disengage them when said dispenser control is turnedoff.

14. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said movable supportingmeans mounting said centering and locking wedge means upon said frameand said pinion support means mounting said transfer pinion means uponsaid frame each comprise slide means.

15. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said printing assemblycontrol means is constructed and arranged to condition said programmingmeans for operation when said dispenser control is turned on.

16. A device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said dispenser controlincludes a starting shaft and a resetting shaft, said printing assemblycontrol means including a control linkage from said starting shaft tosaid shaft projection means whereby said numbered wheels arerotationally disconnected from said shaft when said dispenser control isturned on to permit said numbered wheels to be rotated in accordancewith said amounts dispensed, said control linkage including amotion-transmitting connection from said starting shaft to saidprogramming means whereby said programming means is conditioned foroperation through its cycle when said starting shaft is turned on, saidcontrol linkage being constructed and arranged to cause movement of saidstarting shaft to its off position to engage said centering and saidlocking wedge means with said numbered wheels, and said control linkagebeing connected to said resetting means and to said resetting shaft forcausing said resetting means to operate in response to movement of saidresetting shaft.

17. A device as set forth .in claim 16 wherein said resetting meanscomprises a spring-powered motor, a latching means in said motor forholding it cocked when said motor spring is wound, and said controllinkage being connected to said motor for winding it in response tomovement of said starting shaft to said on position.

18. A device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said con- 16 trol linkageincludes a motion-permitting coupling in said connection to saidresetting motor for causing said starting shaft to retract saidprojection means from said numbered wheels on said shaft before saidresetting motor is wound.

19. A device as set forth in claim 17 wherein transfer pinion means areoperatively associated with said numbered wheels, said transfer pinionmeans being mounted upon pinion support means for engagement anddisengagement with said numbered wheels, and said control linkage meansbeing constructed and arranged to move said transfer pinion means intoengagement with said numbered wheels when said starting shaft is movedto said on position and to disengage them when said dispenser shaft ismoved to said off position.

20. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said programming meanscomprises a cycling cam means, cam follower means being operativelyengaged with said cycling cam means, said cam follower means beingconnected to said movable support means for said centering and lockingwedge means, said control linking means connecting said dispensercontrol means to said cycling cam means to condition it for operationwhen said dispenser control means is turned to the on position, saidcontrol linking means connecting said dispenser control means to movesaid cycling cam means to engage said centering and locking means whensaid dispenser control means is turned to the off position, and saidcontrol linking means connecting said dispenser control means to movesaid cycling cam means to disengage said centering and locking wedgemeans from said numbered wheels when said resetting shaft is operatedwhereby said cycle of operation of said cycling cam means is completed.

21. A device as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cycling cam meansincludes a bar cage rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation, andsaid follower means comprises levers operatively contacting the bars ofsaid bar cage.

22. A device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said movable support meansfor said centering and said locking wedge means and said pinion supportmeans comprise slide means, said control linking means comprising amotion-transmitting link from said dispenser control means to saidpinion support slide means for operating it, said lever means comprisingfollower lever means from said slide means supporting said centering andlocking wedge means, and said follower lever means contacting saidcycling cam means whereby said centering and locking wedge means arecaused to engage and disengage said numbered wheels in proper sequence.

23. A device as set forth in claim 20 wherein said numbered wheelsinclude lowest order and higher order numbered wheels, a pair of saidcentering and locking wedge means, one of said centering and lockingwedge means engaging said lowest order numbered wheel and the other ofsaid centering and locking wedge means engaging said higher ordernumbered wheels, each of said centering and locking wedge means beingseparately mounted upon a movable slide, a separate lever means beingconnected to each of said slides for engagement with cycling cam means,and said separate lever means being arranged to cause said lowest ordercentering and locking means to be engaged with said lowest ordernumbered wheels slightly before said higher order center ing and lockingmeans are engaged with said higher numbered wheels whereby said lowestorder numbered wheels are first centered and then all of said numberedwheels are locked.

24. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said centering and saidlocking wedge means comprise a pair of centering and locking wedgemeans, said numbered wheels having projections disposed about theirperipheries at a pitch distance from each other, said centering andlocking wedge means being displaced from each other one-half said pitchdistance, and said pair of wedge 17 means being movably mounted withrespect to each other to cause one of said pair of wedge means to engagein a centering movement with a numbered wheel if the other of saidlocking wedge means should abut in non-centering relationship with saidnumbered wheel.

25. A device as set forth in claim 24 wherein said pair of wedge meansare resiliently mounted.

26. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said coupling meanscomprises a one-way overrunning clutch means and a resilient connectionwhereby centering movement of said numbered wheels in both directions ispermitted.

27. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said numbered wheelsinclude smooth circular and shouldered hubs whereby said disengageableprojection means are respectively free and connected for forwardrotation with shaft.

28. A device for printing tickets to record the operation of dispensingapparatus having metering means and control means comprising a frame, apair of rotatable shafts mounted on said frame, a set of numberedprintable registering wheels rotatably mounted upon said shafts, aticket-supporting platen upon said frame for holding tickets in printingrelationship with said set of numbered printable registering wheels,said platen including an opening through which said numbered wheelsextend, printing means mounted adjacent said opening for causing saidamounts upon said numbered wheels to be printed upon said ticket,coupling means on the side of said frame disposed adjacent said meteringmeans for connecting said numbered wheels with said metering means fortransmitting amounts dispensed to said numbered wheels, a resettingmeans, motion-transmitting means connecting said resetting means to saidrotatable shafts, disengageable projection means for connecting saidnumbered wheels to said shaft to rotate together with said shaft,centering and locking wedge means in said frame, movable supportingmeans mounting said centering and locking wedge means in said frame formovement radially to said shafts whereby said centering and lockingwedge means are engaged and disengaged with said numbered wheels,programming cam means upon said frame connected with said centering andlocking wedge means for centering and locking said numbered wheels aftersaid amounts dispensed are transmitted to said numbered wheels and Whilesaid ticket is printed therewith, actuating means for said disengageableprojection means, printing assembly control means connected to saidactuating means whereby said numbered wheels are disconnected from saidshaft when said dispenser e u I control is turned on and said amountsare transmitted thereto from said metering means and whereby saidnumbered wheels are connected for rotation with said shaft means whensaid dispenser control is turned off, said printing assembly controlmeans being connected to rotate said programming cam means whereby saidcentering and locking wedge means is disengaged from said numberedwheels when said dispenser control is turned on and said centering andlocking wedge means are engaged with said numbered wheels when saiddispenser control is turned off, said printing assembly control beingconnected to said resetting means for operating it to reset saidnumbered wheels to zero after said amounts on said numbered wheels areprinted, and said printing assembly control means being connected torotate said programming cam means to disengage said centering andlocking wedge means from said numbered wheels while they are being resetto zero.

29. A device as set forth in claim 28 wherein said metering meansincludes a quantity shaft, said coupling means comprises a one-wayoverrunning clutch connecting said quantity shaft with said numberedwheels, and said coupling means being resilient to permit backwardcentering movement of said numbered wheels.

30. A device as set forth in claim 27 wherein said dispenser controlincludes a starting shaft and a resetting shaft, said printing assemblycontrol means including a starting control shaft rotatably mounted insaid frame, and said starting control shaft being operatively connectedto operate said disengageable projection means, said centering andlocking wedge means and said programming cam means.

31. A device as set forth in claim 30 wherein said disengageableprojection means comprise pawls resiliently mounted in slots in saidshafts and a pair of hub surfaces in said printing wheels, said pair ofhub surfaces including a smooth circular surface and a shoulderedsurface, said shafts being loosely mounted to slide back and forthwithin said hubs, said pawls engaging said shouldered surface and freelymoving relative to smooth circular surface in accordance with the axialposition of said shafts, and said starting control shaft actuating saidaxial movement of said shaft through rack and pinion means and thesliding movement of said transfer pinion slide means by slotted levermeans.

32. A device as set forth in claim 28 wherein said programming cam meanscomprise bar cage means rotatably mounted about said starting controlshaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,296 5/1951 Crews 222302,612,428 9/1952 Vroom 346-43 X 2,714,049 7/ 1955 Germann 23594 XRICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

J. W. HARTARY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

